Heating element.



P. 1. SULLI VAN. HEATING ELEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJB. I913.

PatehtedSept. 26,1916.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: 627; a

PATRICK J. SULLIVAN, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

HEATING ELEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed August 18, 1913. Serial No. 785,292.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK J. SULLIVAN,

- a citizen of the United States, and a resiment which is adapted to transfer heat to a liquid so that the liquid can be evaporated or heated to a higher temperature, the device being arranged so that a tube for conducting the liquid to be heated is subjected for a major portion of its length to a heatin vapor or medium which is confined in an outer tube.

The invention is particularly applicable to evaporating devices, such as is used in the manufacture of sugar, glue and similar products, and it is also adapted for use in condensers and the like and in distilling apparatus.

The invention further relates 'to a device of this type in which the outer tube carrying the heating medium and the inner tube carrying the liquid to be heated are arranged so that they slide on each other under temperature changes by means of a sliding fit, this fit also permitting the escape of air or non-condensing gas contained in the heating medium. The device is particularly adapted for use in heating apparatus in which the liquid to be heated, after emergingfrom the heating element, passes therefrom in the form of a film going down the outside of the outer tube and being thus again subjected to the evaporating or distilling process.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view half 1n sectlon and half in elevation of an improved heating element made according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of heating element. Fig. 3 is a similar, view of still another modified form of heating element. Fig. 4 is a view showing an ordinary type of evaporator and illustrating a few of the tubes in position to show one method of using the tubes.

It will be understood that this invention is applicable to a number of different apparatus, but for the purpose of clearly setting it forth it is shown and described as applied to an evaporator which is shown in section in Fig. 4.

In the illustration is shown an evaporator 10 with an outlet pipe 11 for the vapor that is to pass from the evaporator, the inner end of the outlet pipe being arranged in the chamber 12, in which chamber are arranged the tubes to be hereinafter described. The tube sheets 13 and let extend across the body'of the evaporator and form between them an inner chamber 15, in the center of which is a down-take 16 for conducting liquid, that is passed over the heating elements, back into the reservoir 17. A suitable pipe 19 admits a heating medium, such as vapor, preferably. steam, to the inner chamber.

.the pipe 19 to the inner chamber 15 and passes up through the outer tube, bringing the liquid in the inner tubes to the boiling To the tube sheet 14 are fastened any sultable number of inner tubes 20. I

point and the liquid travels upward in a filmy state. In the form of tube shown in Fig. 1 the liquid going up in a filmy state emerges in the enlarged portion 23 and passing into the enlarged portion it sufiers a reduction in velocity and slowly passes out through the perforations 2 1, dripping down over the outside of the outer tube 21 where it is further vaporized.

The top end of the outer tube is restricted as at 25 to fit the inner tube but not too tight, so that the sliding movement between the tubes is comparatively free. The sliding fit permits the tubes to slide on each other slightly under temperature changes, thus relieving the strain on the evaporator and on the tubes. The sliding fit also permits air and non-condensing gases to pass out between the restricted portion of the outer tube and the wall of the inner tube, whereby the heating vapor is allowed to pass up to the top of the outer tube and a maximum efficiency is secured from the heating medium. The enlarged portion 23 at the top of the inner tube 20 is preferably connected to the tube by a receding neck 26, whereby a drip edge 27 is formed from which the liquid being heated drips onto the outer tube 21 without flowing over the sliding joint formed by the restricted portion 25 and the inner tube.

The outside diameter of the enlarged. portion 23 is preferably slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the outer pipe 21 so that the drip from the part 23 is deposited onthe outer surface of the outer pipe 21, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 I show a modified form in which the inner tube has an enlarged upper portion 28, the outer tube having its end 29 formed to fit the outer surface of the enlarged portion 28, the enlarged portion permitting a reduction in velocity of the boiling liquid and allowing it to drip from the top of'the inner tube and then descend on the outside.

In Fig. 3 is shown still another modified form in which the inner tube is continued straight to the top, its upper end 30 projecting beyond the restricted portion 25 of the outer tube 21.

It will be understood that the tubes can be attached to suitable sources of supply of their respective contents other than by the tube sheets shown, and other details can be changed without departing from the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A heating element consisting of an inner tube and an outer tube, the tubes having a space between them, the inner tube being enlarged at its top end, the outer tube being formed to so, fit the inner tube near its top end that the tubes can slide on each other under temperature changes.

2. A heating element. consisting of an inner tube and an outer tube, the inner tube Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

projecting above the outer tube, the tubes having a space between them, the inner tube being enlarged at its top end, the outer tube having its top end reduced to loosely fit the inner tube below itsenlarged portion.

3. A heating element consisting'of an inner tube and an outer tube having a space between them the inner tube projecting above the outer tube, an enlarged portion at the top of the inner tube, the enlarged. POI". tion having perforations in its sides, the outer tube being reduced to fit the inner tub below the enlarged portion.

A. A heating element consisting of an inner tube and an outer tube having a space between them, the inner tube projecting above the outer tube, an enlarged portion at the top of the inner tube, the enlarged portion being connected. to the tube by a receding neck, the enlarged portion having perforations in its sides, the outertubebeing reduced to fit the inner tube slightly below the enlarged portion.

5. In an evaporating apparatus for evaporating liquids, a heating element comprisinga tube-to which the liquid under treatment is admitted, and a jacketing tube therearound to which heating fluid is admitted, the j acketing tube having a loose sliding fit at its end on the inner tube, whereby any heating fluid or vapor escaping from'between the jacketing tube and inner tube will be mingled with the steam, vapor or the like driven off in the evaporation ofthe liquid under treatment.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I hereto set my hand, this 16th day of August, 1913.

PATRICK J SULLIVAN.

Witnesses:

WM. H. CAMFIELD, M. A. JoI-INsoN.

Washington, D. G. 

